Outdoor Wood Furnace Info
All-Purpose OWF Discussions => Plumbing => Topic started by: Sloppy_Snood on November 29, 2015, 05:33:55 PM
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While most know that plumbing with short radius copper elbows can cause significant pressure drops and frictional losses in plumbing designs, I did not know what is more advantageous (in terms of flow, frictional loss, pressure drops) from what I see as the remaining options to turn 90 degrees: two 45s OR a long radius copper 90.
Which is "better?" Two 45s or a long radius copper 90?
All I could find in the Engineering Toolbox was basically equivalent length figures for individual fitting types. Is this also meaning better flow with less equivalent pipe lengths per fitting? :-\
LINK: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/resistance-equivalent-length-d_192.html
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Long radius ninety means one less joint to solder.
I usually like to say away from street fittings, more restriction especially in steel or cast fittings.
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Long radius ninety means one less joint to solder.
Point taken on the reduction of soldered joints with the long radius copper 90s. :thumbup:
That said, from a purely "better flow" perspective, slightly less "disruption" in the long radius copper elbow? (Engineering Toolbox shows only a very slight difference)
More thoughts out there plumbing pros?
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copper can be tight and neat and it gives off more heat than the pex. if you don't mind leaking heat where your pipes run
when my 1 inch pex enters the home I go straight into a 1 inch copper header and then down to 3/4 copper for my hot water tank and furnace exchanger and then to 1/2 inch pex for floor heat (one loop) and 1/2 inch pex to a small exchanger in my fireplace
what leaks off the copper keeps the furnace room warm and dry
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45's are typically much cheaper but
have more resistance
look like crap
more labor installing
more chance of a leak
Long radius 90's win every time!